Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $464/mo less ($893 vs $1,357)
Homes cost $55k less ($192,000 vs $246,700)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $29,787/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Households earn $29,787 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$55k less
$192,000 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$29,787
$78,978 vs $49,191/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
62% lower
318.2 vs 845.6 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 5 and Rio Rancho wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Cincinnati to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $246,700 median home), income ($49,191 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.